WOHVA Update April ‘13Every month WOHVA provides our members and other motorized trail recreation advocates with this short synopsis of WOHVA’s efforts to proactively assure that environmentally responsible OHV recreational opportunities are expanded here the Badger State. Check out what WOHVA was working on as we launched into a new year.

Written comments on behalf of motorized recreation enthusiasts from the Badger State were submitted to U.S. legislators by WOHVA to encourage you their support and cosponsoring of legislation to preserve access to the Cape Hatteras National Seashore.

In conjunction with the Wisconsin Off-Road Vehicle Park, Inc. (WORVPI), WOHVA is working with North Central Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission (NCWRPC) on an extensive Feasibility Study to direct establishing a 10,000 acre Badger State Motorized Recreation Area (MRA). Last month a special project team from WORVPI continued to meet weekly with their consultants drafting the Forest County Motorized Recreation Area Feasibility Study. This is a six part study. Delivery of the completed study is expected in the very near future. WOHVA is excited to be on the forefront, representing Badger State motorized trail riding enthusiasts, on this and other advocacy projects.

On behalf of our members (and all OHV enthusiasts), WOHVA contacted Wisconsin’s U.S. Representatives and encouraged them to support HR 819. This legislation has been introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives to reopen Cape Hatteras National Seashore in North Carolina to off-highway vehicle (OHV) recreation. The bill would reverse a 2012 management plan issued by the National Park Service that banned OHV access to large portions of the seashore with a goal of protecting nesting sea turtles and birds. The legislation would reinstate a previous management strategy that better balances wildlife protections with responsible OHV access.

WOHVA participated in the regular monthly meeting for the Wisconsin Off-Road Vehicle Park, Inc. (WORVPI). Regular updates on WORVPI (including meeting agenda & minutes) and all WOHVA special projects can be found in the “Projects” window located on the WOHVA Webpage. Project Updates are available to WOHVA Individual Members on-line and are provided quarterly to WOHVA Supporting Groups and clubs/organizations that have expressed interest by contacting WOHVA and offering their assistance in helping WOHVA expand OHV opportunities here in the Badger State. Visit the newly launched WORVPI web site at http://www.WORVPI.org.

The Co-Sponsorship, by WOHVA, of the Wisconsin Off-Road Vehicle Park Accounting & Financial Management for Non-Profit Organizations (April 13th at the Mole Lake Lodge & Conference Center) was reported in Issue 3, Volume 121 of The Forest Republican. You can find the article on pages 17 & 19.

Our friends at the Wisconsin State Capitol contacted WOHVA regarding a meeting of the Assembly Committee on Natural Resources and Sporting Heritage. Committee members inquired as to where WOHVA stood on several items being considered by the Committee. The fact that WOHVA was asked our position(s) is another perfect example on how WOHVA is making a difference here in the Badger State. Our voices would not have been heard and our opinions did not matter just ten short years ago!

On behalf of our members (and all OHV enthusiasts), WOHVA contacted Wisconsin’s U.S. Representatives and encouraged them to oppose H.R. 1187, the Northern Rockies Ecosystem Protection Act. This legislation would designate an area(s) more than 23,000,000 million acres across five states (Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington, and Wyoming) as wilderness. This means the area(s) would be made permanently off-limits to motorized and mechanized recreation, including off-highway motorcycles, ATVs, UTV’s, 4x4s and snowmobiles. It is interesting to note that not one one the Representatives whom introduced H.R. 1187 is from a state which would be directly impacted by the closure(s).

WOHVA’s 9th Annual Wisconsin OHV Enthusiasts Workshop was featured in the March issue of UFWDA’s eNews. This annual educational event is being presented at the Mole Lake Lodge & Conference Center in Crandon, Wisconsin on April 12th & 13th. See ya there!

WOHVA weighed in with the President against his Administration’s plans for one of the most massive closures yet. 240,000 acres in the Rio Grande del Norte in New Mexico would be closed to mechanized travel as part of the newest massive National Monuments designation. WOHVA’s Monthly Updates are provided as a service to our members and present an abbreviated recap of the activities over the previous month. WOHVA encourages all OHV enthusiasts to become better informed and stronger access advocates by obtaining additional information on these topics. WOHVA encourages motorized recreation enthusiasts to visit our web site (http://www.WOHVA.com) for expanded information on the issues high-lighted in this Update. Additional information can be found in the “WOHVA Projects Section” and in the Forums.